NZIFF Classic Film Review: "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949).

"A hilarious study in the gentle art of murder." This is Kind Hearts and Coronets. This British black comedy film directed by Robert Hamer, adapted by Hamer and John Dighton, and loosely based on the novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman. The film follows Louis D’Ascoyne, the would-be Duke of Chalfront. His mother was disinherited by her noble family for marrying beneath her. When her dying wish to be buried in the family crypt is refused, Louis vows to avenge his mother whilst at the same time gaining himself the title of Duke, by engaging in the gentle art of murder, killing off one by one each of the eight successors to the title.

In 1947, screenwriter Michael Pertwee suggested an adaptation of Horniman's novel. Screenwriter Simon Heffer observes that the plot of the source novel was dark in places and differed in several respects from the resulting film. The head of Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon, was initially unconvinced by the idea of the film; the studio's creative staff persuaded him to reconsider. Balcon chose Hamer as director. Hamer disliked Pertwee, who withdrew from the project, leaving the scriptwriting to Hamer and Dighton. By early September 1948, Alec Guinness, Dennis Price, Valerie Hobson, and Joan Greenwood were cast. Initially, Guinness was only offered four of the roles, but he insisted on playing all eight roles of The 8th Duke of Chalfont Ethelred, The Reverend Lord Henry, General Lord Rufus, Admiral Lord Horatio, Lord Ascoyne, Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne, Young Ascoyne and Young Henry. Guinness took his extensive roles very seriously, always showing up to work every day thoroughly professional and prepared. Playing eight different roles did come with its challenges, however. Of these, the Vicar D'Ascoyne was his personal favorite. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Kent and London, England. The scene where six members of the D'Ascoyne's family, all played by Guinness, are seen together, took two days to film. The camera was set on a specially built platform to minimize movement. In addition, the camera operator spent the night with the camera to ensure that nothing moved it by accident. A frame with six black matte painted optical flat glass windows was set in front of the camera, and the windows opened one at a time so each of the characters could be filmed in turn. The film was then wound back for the next character. Most of the time was spent waiting for Guinness to be made up as the next character.

The film stars Guinness, Price, Hobson, and Greenwood. The sly and adroit Mr. Guinness plays eight Edwardian fuddy-duds with such devastating wit and variety that he naturally dominates the film.

Drownings, explosions, and poisonings, their ethical status barely mentioned, let alone chastised, roll by like carriages in the park. The comedy is as black as widow's weeds. Artfulness is all. The most sophisticated and blackest of the Ealing comedies, Hamer's immaculate, serial-killer romp gives the splendid Guinness the roles of a lifetime.

Simon says Kind Hearts and Coronets receives:

Also, see my NZIFF review for Maria by Callas.